Several virtual tours have been created by East Midlands Railway in a bid to support customers, especially those who are disabled or anxious to plan their journeys and build confidence in travelling by rail.
360-Degree photography has been used in order to create detailed maps for the virtual tours which allow customers to navigate their way through public spaces including stations, toilets, customer service desks, platforms, car parks and drop-off areas. The virtual tours are available for:
The tours are web-based and have the option to be operated using Autopilot or Manual controls. Autopilot offers customers the chance to choose their destination in each station before being automatically led to it, the Manual feature provides navigation via a series of clicks providing a personalised approach.
The project's development has seen feedback gathered from the East Midland Railways Accessibility Panel which is a group of disabled customers who engage with the rail operator on a regular basis.
EMR Accessibility Panel member, Georgie Hill-Jones said:
“Virtual maps of EMR stations are going to make such a difference to passengers – especially disabled passengers. Having the ability to understand the layout of the station ahead of time will enable them to make better decisions about their time there with less anxiety and more confidence.”
Head of Customer Experience at East Midlands Railway, Emma Davies said:
“We know many of customers can often feel anxious about taking a trip, especially if they have extra accessibility needs or haven't travelled in a while.”
“We hope these virtual tours provide a useful tool for customers when they are planning their journey.”
The virtual tours can be found by clicking here.
